Process of forming expanded reticulated constructions.



C W. RICE & C. W. DAKE. PROCESS OF FORMING EXPANDED RETICULATEDcowsmucnoms.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. 1915- 1 2159061. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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PROCESS OF FORMING EXPANDED RETICULATED CONSTRUCTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1915.

L1 fififil. Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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' ATTORNEY C. W. RICE & C. W. DAKE.

PROCESS OF FORMINGEXPANDED RETICULATED CONSTRUCTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CYRUS W. RICE AND CHARLES W. DAKE, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICElIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1911.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,613.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CYnUs W. RICE and CHARLES W. DAKE, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and Stateof Michigamhave invented new and useful Improvements in Processes ofForming Expanded Reticulated Constructions, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to expanded reticulated construction, andI its object is generally, to provide improved processes for forming thesame; and more particularly, improved processes for formin suchconstructionin cross section bodily eflecting or deviant from a straightline (and preferably tubular), thus to better sustain transverse stress.

Afurther general object is to provide improved processes for formingsuch a construction combinin lightness, strength and rigidity andespecially adapted for use as telegraph, telephone, trolley and flagpoles, fence posts, beams and the like. These objects are attained inand by the processes hereinafter set forth; and examples of suchconstruction formed by such processes and of means for carrying outsuch-processes are illustrated by the drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a tubular body 1 from which the tubular reticulatedconstruction may be formed; Fig. 2 shows the same slitted at 2 in orderto be expanded;

Fig. 3 shows a finished construction mounted on abase (as by threadedbolts 3),

and adapted for use as a fence postand' carrying fence wires 4;

Fig. 4.- shows a finished construction set in the ound (whose surface isindicated by the 11110 5), and furnished with across arm 6 for carryingtelegraph wires and the like. The embedded-portion of this'constructionis shown as not tapering? Fig. 5, shows a "finished construction,right-angled in cross section and mounted on and around-a base or post 7to which it may be secured as by nails or bolts 8; I

Fig. 6 shows (partly in -longitudinal central section), means ormechamsm for forming a reticulated construction and for carrying out theprocess thereof. The parts are shown in their position'after theoperation on the construction in such mechanism has been performed, butthe extremities of bent by the mechanisms said operation to form orshape a transverse flange, such as v that shown on the leg 10;

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10', 11 and 12 are end views of some of the varioustubular bodies from which the reticulated construction may be formed:Fig. 7 shows a tube circular in cross section, like that in Fig. 1; Fig.8 shows a similar tube, but having its wall thicker on one side, thus tobetter withstand transverse stress in one direction; Fig. 9 shows atubeoval in cross-section; Fig. 10,- square; Fig. 11, fluted or corrugated;and Fig. 12 hexagonal in cross-section; I

Fig. 13' shows a mandrel adapted to be thrust or driven into the end ofthe tubular body to expand the same.

Our reticulated construction is formed from a slitted hollow body ofsuitable material (as metal), by what is commonly called expanding ittransversely, and the finished construction is so shaped as to presentin cross sect1on a deflectmn or deviaforms, some of which forms'appearin the drawings; preferably however, our construction is formed from atubular bodyof desired size, thickness and cross sectional form, andprepared in any suitable manner, as in the ordinary way,.or by rollingor bending a metal sheet, etc. Theportion of such tubular body (as thatshown in Fig. 1) to be expanded is slitted longitudinally improper form,as inthe form-shown at 2 .in Fig. 2. The tubular body (or its slittedportion) is now expanded transversely,

as by s reading meansinserted thereintoand operatingv against the innersurface thereof. Preferably, such means comprises a mandrel 11 whoseforward end is pointed as shown to permit such insertion; andpreferably,

this mandrel is tapering as shown, in order to impart to the finishedconstruction a, symmetrical form and a. correspondingly tapering form,as well as to obviate too abrupt ex ansio'n of such body at any point.

t will be seen that thismandrel on being driven intothetubularbodysuitably fixed in position, as within a form 12, operates toexpand such body to correspond internally to the mandrel, and externally(where such form is employed) to the inner surface of the form, the saidbody being compressed between mandrel and form, whereby any burs at theends of the slits as well as other distortions incident to the expandingare pressed out.

It will be seen that the mandrel in being driven, as illustrated in thedrawings, into the tubular body, initiates the expanding of successiveportions thereof progressively in the longitudinal direction of saidbody; 1'. e. that end of such body into which the man drel is insertedfirst begins to expand, and expanding begins in successive portions ofthe tubular body progressively as the man drel is driven farther in. Itwill also be seen that, in the operation illustrated in the drawings,the mandrels action is not only to expand the material by transverse oroutward pressure against its inner surface, but also, andsimultaneously, to shorten the material (or cont 'act it longitudinally)by the frictional engagement of the mandrel-4n its driven slidingmovement,with the inner surface of the material; said expanding andcontracting being thus in such different directions, that each mutuallyassists the other. 7

This process of mechanically shortening the material simultaneously withmechanically expanding it,- neither such operation being merelyconsequent upon or the effect of the other-is claimed as broadlypatentably novel.

The tendency of the material to break or tear is lessened by thissimultaneous transverse expanding and longitudinal contractm burreticulated construction may have at its end a transverse flange 13whereby it may be attached to a base as shown in Fig. 3: this flange isshown in the views as formed on the several legs of the construction,and may be so formed or shaped by a suitable shoulder 14: of themandrel, operating to bend the extremities of such legs on the edge 15of the mouth of the form.

Where the quality of the material, its size or thickness, or the desireddegree of its expansion requires or makes it advisable, such material(as the tubular body) should before; expanding, be heated sufficientlyto stand or facilitate the process.

It will be seen that the bottom 16 of the form constitutes an abutmentor support for the tubular body during the expanding thereof by themandrel.

The slits may be of any shape or cross sectional form permitting orfacilitating the expansion of the material, and may or may not extendentirely through the material.

Our invention being intended to be defined in and by the claims only, wedo not propose to confine ourselves to details described above orillustrated in the drawings.

\Ve claim:

1. The process of forming a reticulated construction of the characterdescribed. which consists in slitting a hollow body and transverselyexpanding and forming the same bodily deflecting in cross section in theplane of the direction of the expanding.

2. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a tubular body andexpanding the same transversely by spreading means operating against theinner surface of said body.

3. The process of forming a reticulated cmistruction of the characterdescribed, which consists in slitting a hollow body, heatin the samesutliciently to render it reformable and thereupon transverselyexpanding and forming the same bodily defleeting in cross section in theplane of the direction of the expand n 4. The process of forming atubular reticulated construction of the character described, whichconsists in slitting a tubular body and heating the same sulficiently tofacilitate expanding and thereupon expanding the body transversely byspreading means operating against the inner surface of said body.

5. The process of forming a reticulated construction of the characterdescribed, which consists in slitting a hollow body and transverselyexpanding and forming the same bodily deflecting in cross section in theplaneof the direction of the expanding, such expanding being initiatedin successive portions of the body progressively in the longitudinaldirection of the body.

6. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter de' scribed, which consists in slitting a tubular body andexpanding the same transversely by spreading means operating against theinner surface of said body, such expanding being initiated in successiveportions of the body progressively in the longitudinal direction of thebody.

7. The process of forming a reticulated construction of the characterdescribed, which consists in slitting a hollow body, heating the samesufiiciently to render it reformable and thereupon transverselyexpanding and forming the same bodily deflecting in cross section in theplane of the direction of the expanding, such expanding being initiatedin successive portions of the body progressively in the longitudinaldirection of the body.

8. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slittin a tubular body andheating the same sucie'ntly to facilitate expanding and thereuponexpanding the body transversely by spreading means operating against theinner surface of said body, such-expanding being initiated in successiveportions of the body progres- Isgrely in the longitudinal direction ofthe 9. The process of forming a reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting the material andthereupon expanding the same transversely and simultaneously contractingit longitudinally, the expandin and contracting forces being in such dierent directions as to be mutually assistant.

10. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a tubular body, andthereupon expanding the same transversely and simultaneously contractingit longitudinally, the expanding and contracting forces being in suchdifferent directions as to be mutually assistant.

11. The process of forming a reticulated construction of the characterdescribed, which consists in slitting the material, heating the samesufiiciently to render it reformable, and thereupon expanding the sametransversely and simultaneously contracting it longitudinally, theexpanding and contracting forces being in'such differ-- ent directionsas to be mutually assistant.

12. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a tubular body, heatingthe same sufiiciently to render it re-formable, and thereupon expandingthe same transversely and simultaneously contracting it longitudinally,the expanding and contracting forces being in such different directionsas to be mutually assistant.

13. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a tubular body,expanding the same transversely, and thereupon compressing the wall ofsuch expanded body in the direction of such expanding.

.14. The process of forming a tubular reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a tubular body, heatingthe same sufficiently to render it re-formable, expanding the sametransversely, and thereupon compressing the wall of such expanded bodyin the direction of such expanding.-

15. The process of forming a hollow reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a hollow body, expandingthe same transversely, and thereupon compressing the wall of suchexpanded body in the direction of such expanding.

16. The process of forming a hollow reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a hollow body, heatingthe same sufficiently to render it re-form'able, expanding the sametransversely, and thereupon compressing the wall of such expanded bodyin the direction of the expanding.

17. The process of forming a hollow reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slitting a hollow-c body, andthereupon expanding the same transversely and simultaneously contractingit longitudinally, the expanding and contracting forces being in suchdifferent directions as to be mutually assistant.

18. The process of forming a hollow reticulated construction of thecharacter described, which consists in slittinga hollow body, heatingthe same sufficiently to render it re-formable, and thereupon expandingthe same transversely and simultaneously contracting it longitudinally,the expanding and contracting forces being in such different directionsas to be mutually assistant.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CYRUS W. RICE. CHARLES W. DAKE.

Witnesses:

HENRIETTA K. VANDER Mmn, GANSON TAGGART.

